When a couple loves fashion and pays attention to every single detail the way Brooke and Layne do, there’s no way the wedding will be anything less than fabulous. The couple, affectionately nicknamed BROLO, originally went to high school together but reconnected via social media years later.
The couple had often vacationed in Miami and made beautiful memories together. So when it came time to choose a venue, choosing this city as their destination was a no brainer. After shopping around for venues, they landed on The Temple House because of its sleek all-white outdoor terrace space and breathtaking waterfall. Though the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception all took place in one venue, every location provided a different mood.
Brooke, a textile industry professional, and fashion influencer, also did a bang-up job at styling her entire bridal party. The bride expertly pulled pieces that spoke to each bridesmaid and snagged suits for the groomsmen that were expertly tailored and complimentary to her groom. Seriously, the photos say it better than we ever could.
Scroll through the gallery below and see the best moments from Brooke and Layne’s wedding weekend in Miami.
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The Jacksons held a “Toast to Love” welcome party at the Mammoth Gardens at Faena Hotel Miami Beach. “It was a very special moment when our loved ones shared a toast to us. We also got the opportunity to thank our parents.”
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In Living Color
Guests enjoyed live music by LaVie, a Live Table (a woman wearing a dress with full glasses of champagne) and a caricature artist for the 2-hour event.
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How He Proposed
We had been dating for five years and were on vacation together in Cape Town, South Africa,” Brooke says of Layne’s proposal. ” It was the last day of our trip, and we ended the night by spontaneously taking a ride on The Cape Wheel Ferris wheel. I looked out at the view for a few moments as the Ferris wheel reached its way to the top, and when I turned around, Layne was on one knee. It was such a beautiful moment.”
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The Invitations
Layne and Brooke carefully selected four different vendors to create their wedding stationery including an illustration company Our Lovely Day and Petals N Peonies for digital design.
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At Ease and In Love
Brooke says despite the tons of planning and preparation, she was totally at ease on her wedding day. “There was so much love, so many family and friends, and an outpouring of support. Every moment felt like a ‘WOW’ moment for me. I was easily like Sunday morning all wedding weekend long.”
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Tailored With A Capital T
Layne played with prints for his wedding look, opting for a Musika Frère tuxedo with navy blue crocodile print.
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A Departure From Tradition
“My dress was so me and I knew it as soon as I tried it on,” Brooke says of her Naeem Khan gown. “The dress I chose was non-traditional in that it was not a full-length gown; it fell to my ankles. It reminded me of Carrie in Sex & The City and I loved that.”
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“Love Never Fails”
“We had a beautiful outdoor ceremony,” Brooke says of their big day. “I walked into The Temple House and saw large canvasses of our parents’ wedding days, which was really special. Our ceremony was officiated by my cousin, Minister Michael Minter, Jr. We also had a special reading by Alice Wright, a friend of the family. We were so happy to be married in front of our loved ones.”
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In Remembrance Of Mom
“We also had a moment of remembrance for my late mother during our ceremony,” Brooke said. “We called it ‘Butterflies for Bev’; we had a butterfly release in celebration of my mom’s life and of being wed on her birthdate.”
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Saying “I Do”
“Our ceremony was officiated by my cousin, Minister Michael Minter, Jr.,” Brooke revealed. “We also had a special reading by Alice Wright, a friend of the family. We were so happy to be married in front of our loved ones.”
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Styled to Perfection
Brooke says that even before choosing her wedding gown, she had a clear vision of how she wanted the bridal party to look. “I knew for sure that I wanted the bridesmaids to wear different looks from one another, and I wanted the groomsmen tuxedos, along with my Man of Honor’s, to be high quality and sharply tailored.”
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The Look Of Love
Brooke exercised the full range of her fashion experience to style her bridal party. “I personally styled each member of the bridal party in all different designers. I selected different jumpsuits for all of the bridesmaids, a dress for the lead bridesmaid, a skirt + camisole for the maid of honor, rompers for the hostesses and a tuxedo for the man of honor.”
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Made Just For You
“I had a clear vision of the styles that best fit their personalities and body types, so that was my guiding force,” says Brooke. “It was also important to me that they’d want and be able to wear their looks again. Spending money on bridesmaid dresses/outfits that can’t serve you more than once is a waste to me. Where’s the fun in that?!”
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One Stylish Squad
The best men were dressed in Suit Supply tuxedos that complimented Layne’s blue & black crocodile jacquard tuxedo jacket.
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Wouldn’t Change A Thing
“Though there were some hiccups along the way, when I think of my wedding day, I would not change a thing,” Brooke says. “I married the love of my life and had a blast doing it with our family and friends there to share in the experience. For me, that is the bigger picture.”
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Your Chariot Awaits
The Jacksons had a fleet of vintage cars to transport them to and fro during their wedding weekend.
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Flavors From All Over
Brooke and Layne wanted their guests to experience some of their favorite dishes. Their reception served delicious dishes like deep fried buttermilk chicken and honey buttermilk biscuits, homemade butternut squash ravioli and seared teriyaki salmon.
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The Bride’s Favorite Detail
“I obsessed over having a custom photo dance floor and it ended up being my favorite décor element. Our customized floor featured black-and-white photos of Layne & me throughout our relationship. I was beyond pleased with how it turned out.”
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Playing Dress Up
Layne says his favorite aspect of their wedding day was getting all dressed up. “Being a Department of Defense firefighter, an avid gym goer and believer in fitness & nutrition, I usually live in a uniform or gym clothes,” he tells ESSENCE. “It was a good feeling getting dressed up and wearing a tuxedo.”
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You’re My Favorite Work Of Art
The Jacksons had an artist do a live painting of their first dance. The final painted image was used as the cover for the wedding thank you cards – a way to remind guests of the experience, as well as show them the final product.
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Wardrobe Change
Brooke opted for a Viktor & Rolf romper to wear during the reception.
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Picture Perfect
Each table was decorated with cute throwback photos of the couple.
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Hit The Floor
“We cannot say enough about our DJ,” the couple says. “He had us on the dance floor the whole night and everyone noticeably had so much fun!”
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It’s A Vibe
Brooke and Layne ultimately felt their instinct to get married in Miami was spot on. “The vibe felt so Miami Beach and sexy, yet very intimate and inviting.”
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Brooke’s Advice To Brides
“The five most important items to invest in (in my opinion) are Food, Venue, Entertainment, Videography and Photography. For the bride, I would also throw in Hair & Makeup as must.”